Daily Devotions
Self-Deception
Title: Self-Deception
Reading for March 19: Judges 17-19
Then Micah said, "Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest."
Judges 17:13
The list of sins Micah and his mother committed in this chapter is impressive. In all, they broke at least half of the ten commandments:
- Micah broke the fourth, the eighth, and the tenth commandments when he stole from his mother (v 2).
- His mother broke the first and the second commandment when she dedicated the silver her son stole to make a carved image to worship the Lord (v 3).
- His mother broke the ninth commandment when she lied about how much would be dedicated to the Lord (compare what she said in verse 3 with what she did in verse 4).
Add to this the fact that he was violating the prohibition from worshiping in your own backyard (Deuteronomy 12) and that he had appointed his own son as a priest (he was a Ephraimite, v 1). Verse six sums up the chapter pretty well, "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (And compare with Deuteronomy 12:8, taking note of the context in that chapter.)
It makes you wonder how could Micah be so wrong and yet feel justified in the end! How many more commandments could he break? What would it take for him to see his rebellion and his wickedness?
The fact is he was completely blind to his own faults because he was guilty of the most pernicious sin of all: SELF-DECEPTION!
The Bible is replete with warnings about self-deception (Prov 30:12; Jer 2:34-35; 14:14-16; 17:9-10; 23:16-18; Mt 7:21-23; 25:41-46; Lk 13:25-27; Rom 2:17-29; 1 Cor 3:18; 6:9-10; Gal 6:3; Jas 1:22-26; 3:14; 1 Jn 1:8; Rev 3:17). Once we've given up on being honest with ourselves, there's nothing else that can help us. That's why the worst lies we tell are the ones we tell our own hearts.
Father, help us to see ourselves clearly, as you see us! Search us and know our hearts! Try us and know our thoughts! And see if there is any grievous way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting!
